Thursday, November 7, 2019
Voting for Library Funding
We parked at the library for early voting and realized how full of potholes the parking lot was.
Within the library, two election workers blocked access to the main library - you could only go down to the voting area. But if you could have entered the library, you would have entered a warm and welcoming place. Local art always lines the wall leading to the checkout section.
I've had a library card for the past - oh, 60 years, I figure.
But what if you came one day, and the library door was locked? It's almost happened where we live, and in many other communities. Just think:
Children with no place to go after school. No where to listen to story hour. Nowhere to enjoy performances by local talent on summer evenings.
No one to help people looking for a job. No one to help those with research questions. Nowhere to borrow a pass to a local museum so you could get in for free. Nowhere to borrow a wi fi hotspot. Or to do research on any one of many databases.
No one to see local history, in the other of the two libraries whose funding we were voting on today.
Just think, having to do this every several years. There had been no increase in five years, yet the demands on the libraries has only increased.
Our election results - the library funding passed.
The libraries can breathe relief.
Until next time.
8 comments:
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What a relief the funding went through.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your visit!
Sigh. that you have to worry about funding the library...
ReplyDeleteMy community is in the process of building a new library building, one designed for the 21st century, with an emphasis on computer technology and the internet as well as a meeting place for all sorts of activities.
I remember back in the late 80's when we passed a millage, finally, to build a new library. One that would be honored as one of the top libraries in the nation during the Obama years. Folks opposed to the millage said libraries were obsolete. Really? They had to enlarge the parking lot!
ReplyDeleteThankfully, Alexandria has a blossoming library program. Neighborhood branches, a fully-equipped main branch, with reading programs for tykes and non-English speakers. I still buy books- but read thrice as many borrowed from the local branch.
ReplyDeleteI find it so short sighted to cut funding to the services that ensure that our race--that people--continue. We lived 44 years under a party that only knows cuts. And a bottom line. For four glorious years, we got a party who tried to catch up on the infrastructure and social programs that had been sadly neglected or downright cancelled by the former kings of comedy. They were voted out in the last election. And now the former party, which has again become the ruling party, has announced major cuts to education, health, the arts and social programs that benefitted families. And huge dividends to the upper strata. Back to the past forty-four years. Sooo short-sighted. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteMy father and I were having a discussion about libraries the other day. He was talking about things that are going away, like print newspapers. I pointed out how libraries are evolving to utilize the technology of today.
ReplyDeleteTo have no library is unthinkable, even if I don't go as often as I used to. That's the price of having a Kindle! I still love them just to hang out.
ReplyDeleteLibraries are treasures and we should treat them like castles when it comes to funding. Every dollar spent on libraries is money well spent.
ReplyDelete